Bella Ligenza
As technology advances and changes so does the way humans interact with each other. Much of our communication has moved online through texts, emails, and various forms of social media. Even dating has moved online; in fact, the Pew Research Center conducted a study in October in 2019 and found that three out of ten US adults have used a dating site/app. Despite the relatively high numbers on these platforms, the public is fairly torn on their opinion of them. The Pew Research Center’s study also found that 53% of Americans considered dating apps to be very or somewhat safe while 46% deemed them not safe at all. With close to half of Americans believing online dating to be an unsafe activity, let’s cover some of the dangers that can arise from it and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim.
One of the biggest fears for anyone venturing into online dating is running into a catfish. Catfishing is the act of pretending to be another person online (by using fake photos, videos, altering voices, etc.), in order to bait someone into a trusting relationship. The unusual name came from a documentary released in 2010 that explores this form of internet scam; the creators of the film now host a popular MTV show with the same name. The end goal of catfishing is normally to obtain money, expensive material items, or personal details from the victim without having to use their real identity. Alternatively, and possibly even more sinister, people catfish in order to lure others out in the open to meet in person. This can result in more violent crimes like kidnapping and sexual assault.
Most free dating apps like Tinder, PlentyofFish, and OkCupid do not do background checks on their users, which allows registered sex offenders to use these services freely. This creates easy access for individuals with a criminal history to find more victims and continue their cycle. People like this will not seem dangerous at first. They will make you comfortable online and build your trust, so you will be willing to overlook the risks of meeting in person.
Now that we have identified some of the dangers that come along with catfishing, here are some ways to know if you are interacting with a catfish:
- The relationship progress quickly.
- They never show their face other than a few profile pictures.
- Social media usage is few and far between.
- They ask for money.
- They tell extravagant stories.
A catfish’s goal is to reel you in and manipulate you into believing they are too good to be true and that you can’t find someone better than them. They will use attractive photos, high emotion, and play off of your interests to get what they want. It is important to remember that if something smells fishy, it is probably a catfish! Trust your gut and stay safe.
Works Cited
8 signs you are being catfished. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://whatismyipaddress.com/catfish
Read, B. (2019, Dec. 4). When you see your rapist on tinder. Retrieved from https://www.thecut.com/2019/12/investigation-sex-offenders-can-use-most-free-dating-apps.html
Vogels, E, A. (2020, Feb. 6). 10 facts about americans and online dating. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/02/06/10-facts-about-americans-and-online-dating/
Waring, O. (2018, Mar. 18). What is catfishing and how can you spot it?. Retrieved from https://metro.co.uk/2018/03/18/catfishing-can-spot-7396549/
Todd, Bella, Brittany 